Luke Romick ʼ16 hit the ground running. His academic coursework gave him the framework to tackle real-world challenges, but it was his involvement in extracurriculars that truly shaped his Denison experience.
From the Student-Athlete Advisory Council and the environmental studies major group to varsity football and track, he fully embraced the opportunities offered. His senior year, Romick won a national award allowing him to establish a fund supporting unpaid internships for other students.
A chance interaction with Thirst Project founder Seth Maxwell ignited a passion that would later turn into his career. Inspired by Thirst Project’s mission to bring clean water to communities in need, Romick brought the organization’s efforts to campus by creating a new club.
Romick began applying for internships early. After a string of rejections, he circled back to Thirst Project. They couldn’t offer a paid position, but said Romick could join the team if he could find a way to cover his own expenses for the summer.
That’s where Denison stepped in. Romick received the McMahon Internship Stipend, a university grant designed to help students afford unpaid internships. This financial support allowed Romick to spend a summer in Los Angeles, interning for Thirst Project and laying the groundwork for his future.
“The McMahon stipend allowed me to fund my first summer in LA,” Romick said. “I got there right after classes ended in May and immediately jumped into working 40+ hour weeks the entire summer as my first internship experience.”
By the end of his first summer, Romick had proven his value to the team and was asked to return. From managing annual galas to overseeing operations, Romick honed the leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills he first developed at Denison.
As a senior, Romick was awarded the prestigious Coach Wooden Citizenship Cup, the highest honor in college sports, awarded for character and service — a rare accomplishment for a Division III athlete standing in a field with Division I players and professional hopefuls. The award not only recognized his wide-reaching contributions but also gave him the opportunity to leave a lasting legacy at Denison: part of the prize included a grant for Denison, which Romick used to establish a fund supporting unpaid internships for other students.
“Being able to create a few unpaid internship grants felt like a full circle moment,” Romick said. “I felt like I had gotten so much from Denison, and it was so cool to be able to give back and give other students the same opportunity as I had.”
When Romick graduated, he went to work for Thirst Project. Starting as a development associate, he worked his way through the ranks, recently becoming the president of domestic operations. His leadership has been instrumental in growing Thirst Project’s impact.
“Denison encouraged me to explore different areas and gave me the confidence to succeed even when I didn’t have all the answers.”
Luke Romick ʼ16
